And, They're Off… the Pounds, That is!

Hello! Daniel Island’s Get Fit Challenge is in just its third week, but enthusiastic participants are already posting impressive results. The 12-week program is an island-wide initiative designed to encourage residents to have fun while getting in shape.

More than 300 participants are taking advantage of a jam-packed schedule of free fitness classes offered by the community’s diverse array of health, wellness and fitness professionals. With a list of activities that includes karate, hip hop dance, water aerobics, tennis, yoga, badminton and more, there’s plenty of fun to be had. Just see what Charleston’s ABC affiliate WCIV had to say about the effort:

Competing individually or in teams, participants weigh in weekly at the City of Charleston’s Recreation Department office on Daniel Island to track their results. The individual or team with the highest percentage of weight loss at the end of the 12 week program will be the winner. Alesya Macatol is the current individual leader with a total collective weight loss of 8.163%. The current team in the lead is the “Flabulous 6,” who have already posted a collective weight loss of 4.595%.

Congratulations to everyone for their hard work so far. Keep up the good work!

   

Digging in the Dirt: Brenda Cook’s Garden

Daniel Island and its neighborhoods offer all sorts of garden and landscape design ideas. Some island residents choose to keep it simple and clean, whereas others really take it up a notch. Brenda Cook is part of the later group. Brenda has been a resident on Daniel Island for seven years and a real estate agent at Daniel Island Real Estate for almost as long. Her garden in Daniel Island Park is an incredible blend of formal and informal design, incorporating both native and ornamental plants and flowers and a number of smaller nooks throughout that serve varying functions.

Brenda began work on her garden in 2004 at the same time Hidden Oaks Properties was building her house. When searching for a good landscape architect, she was referred to Clyde Timmons of DesignWorks. “Clyde and I hit it off immediately and have become great friends,” says Brenda. And Clyde agrees. “Brenda is dynamic, like her garden. The relationship between designer and client is critical to creating the perfect space, “ said Clyde. “You have to work well together so you can give each other ideas and explore options together. It’s a give and take relationship”.

Clyde Timmons has worked in residential landscape design in the Lowcountry for more than 30 years. His interest in plants and gardening began when he worked as manager of Abide-A-While Nursery in Mt. Pleasant before going back to school for his Masters in Landscape Architecture. He then returned to Charleston and began working for DesignWorks. Since then he’s won numerous design awards, including a Merit Award from the South Carolina Chapter of ASLA for Cattle Trough Park in Daniel Island Park. His designs have been published in several books and magazines, including Seascape Gardening by Anne Halpin and Southern Living magazine.

When Clyde started work on Brenda’s garden, the two got together to discuss what Brenda had in mind. She wanted a fairly traditional Charleston garden, but one that also included some whimsical, creative and relaxing elements to set it apart. Her home in Daniel Island Park has “borrowed views” of a butterfly garden, pond and marsh. She wanted all of these elements to become a visual extension of her own garden. Clyde’s incorporation of these gave Brenda’s garden an open feel while also remaining private.

There’s a path system that leads from the house and meanders through the garden, creating a sense that the garden is a part of Brenda’s home. Pocket gardens are found off the pathway, ranging from annual and perennial flowerbeds to decorative objects, fountains and sitting areas. Among the many plants that bloom successfully are hydrangeas, a popular shrub that thrives in the south and means “water lover” in Latin.

Since 2004, the garden has continued to grow and evolve with the care of Brenda, Clyde and Aaron Stace of Coastal Scapes, who does the weekly maintenance. And, about once a year, Clyde will come to take a look, go through the space and talk to Brenda about what’s working, what’s not and what she can do to make it even better.

“A garden is like life: it’s ever changing and requires lots of love and attention. Sometimes it can be very disappointing but at other times, it’s so rewarding,” says Brenda, “I often tell my clients that I love “digging in the dirt” – I think it’s the farm girl in me”.

Gardening Tips for Daniel Island Residents
Clyde Timmons, ASLA, RLA | DesignWorks, LC

• Pay attention to your drainage system and make sure it’s working properly.
• Amend your soil frequently with organic material. This will help improve the quality of the soil so your garden grows successfully
• Balance your garden with low maintenance areas that require little work with plants and shrubs that need more care. This way you will have time to actually enjoy your garden!
• Plant annuals and perennials so you always have something blooming no matter what the season may be.
• Hire a good landscape architect. They will help you “weed out” what will work best for your location.

Click below for more pictures of Brenda’s garden.

Photos by Pat Stuckart Photography. Click HERE to see more of his work.

Help Preserve the Legacy of Philip Simmons

As the Charleston area continues to honor and remember the life and work of celebrated blacksmith Philip Simmons, who passed away last month at the age of 97, the Philip Simmons Foundation is continuing its mission to raise money to document his work and restore his Charleston home and workshop.

Daniel Island residents and visitors who want to help with this effort need go no further than Daniel Island’s Sales and Information Center on River Landing Drive. Here, the Foundation is offering for sale signed prints of artist John Jones’ painting of Daniel Island’s Simmons Park. Mr. Simmons designed the gate and Daniel Island logo that are prominently displayed at this urban park in the heart of Daniel Island’s downtown. Born on Daniel Island in 1912, Mr. Simmons is an important part of the island’s history. This park was dedicated in his honor in 2001.

For the month of August, Daniel Island residents may purchase prints of this painting, signed by both Philip Simmons and the artist, for a special price of $45. All proceeds benefit the Philip Simmons Foundation. Simply stop by the sales center at 101 River Landing Drive to check it out. And while you’re there, be sure to peruse Mr. Simmons’ own original sketches that areon display throughout the building’s first floor.

For an informative look at Mr. Simmons’ life and work in words, pictures and music, check out the video below, produced as a tribute to Mr. Simmons by Mark McKinney and partner Steve Lepre at Sunhead Projects. They are working with the Philip Simmons Foundation on a multimedia “Documentation Project” to archive more than 600 pieces of existing ironworks attributed to Mr. Simmons.

Philip Simmons Tribute from Sunhead Projects on Vimeo.

The Flying Fish Get Wet & Place 3rd at the CCAA Championships!

Members of Daniel Island’s Flying Fish swim team were in top form early this week as the three-day Coastal Carolina Aquatics Association (CCAA) Championships began. Determined to improve upon last year’s impressive fourth place finish, the team emerged in first place at the end of the first day of competition.

By the end of day two, the 20-time defending champions from Snee Farm had moved into first place, knocking the Flying Fish to third place, but not breaking their spirit as they competed against other local teams like Coosaw Creek, who ultimately came in second, and Shadowmoss, who placed third at last year’s meet but were knocked back to fourth this year by the Flying Fish, who took third.

The CCAA Championships, or “City Meet,” is the season-ending competition for hundreds of young swimmers representing 22 teams from around the Lowcountry. At just six years old, the Flying Fish is one of the league’s newcomers, but it has quickly advanced to become one of the top teams on the roster.

Their first season, the Flying Fish ranked 23rd out of 25 teams. Now, in their sixth season, they’ve competed and raced their way to become third in the league! Made up of 160 team members, aged 5-17, the Flying Fish ended their season on an extremely high note and everyone involved is already itching for next year’s season.

“The determination and dedication of the children as well as the parents is amazing,” says Rita Ryan, a parent coordinator of the team. “We owe a lot to our incredible coaching staff.  We hope to keep building the strength of the team over the next few years!”

Thanks also go out to the hundreds of parents, volunteers and sponsors who supported the team this year.

Until next year, congratulations to the Flying Fish!

Women's Soccer Kicks Grass on Daniel Island!

Charleston is no stranger to hosting live sporting events. We’ve got the Charleston Riverdogs, the South Carolina Stingrays and the Charleston Battery! There are also all the sporting events at the Citadel and College of Charleston, and the annual Family Circle Cup professional tennis tournament. Whatever sport gets you cheering, chances are Charleston’s got it.

But what Charleston doesn’t have is a professional women’s soccer team! So when the U.S. Women’s National Team returns to Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island on Wednesday, July 22, Lowcountry residents need to come out, show their support and check it out.

The team will take on Canada in a two-game set, the 46th and 47th all-time between the countries, with the first match taking place on Sunday, July 19, at Marina Auto Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. The team will then return to Blackbaud Stadium for the fourth time ever in a match on Wednesday, July 22. The match kicks off at 8:00 pm and will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Español.

In their history with Blackbaud Stadium, the USA team has not allowed a goal in the previous three wins they’ve had on Daniel Island. They last played here in 2005 in a 3-0 win over Mexico.

The match at Blackbaud Stadium will be the last domestic game for the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2009, but they are scheduled to gather for training camps and a European tour following the completion of the inaugural WPS campaign.

Call the Charleston Battery ticket hotline at 971-GOAL (4625) for more information or to purchase tickets.

Love Golf? The Nationwide Tour Championships Needs You!

Summertime is in full swing but plans are already well under way for one of Charleston’s most anticipated fall events, scheduled to take place right here on Daniel Island. The PGA TOUR’s Nationwide Tour Championship will be held at the Daniel Island Club October 19 -25, 2009. If you’re a golf lover, now is the time to make plans to participate in this exciting event as a volunteer.

The tournament is the Nationwide Tour’s final event each year, concluding the season-long competition to identify the 25 players who earn PGA TOUR cards for the following season. More than 650 volunteers are needed to staff this world-class event. Adults (ages 23+) and students (ages 12-22) are invited to volunteer for a variety of different positions, many of which do not require golf knowledge. Positions include:

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Hospitality

Park

Scoring Tents/Runners

Water & Ice

Information

Player Relations

Standard Bearers

Distribution

Marshals

Player Shuttles

Television

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Volunteers will receive:

• Volunteer golf shirts & golf hat
• Volunteer badge (admits volunteer all week)
• Complimentary weekly pass (admits a guest all week)
• Complimentary breakfast & lunch on scheduled work days
• Invitation to Volunteer Appreciation Party

And, as an added bonus, adults who work three full volunteer shifts will receive one complimentary round of golf at the Daniel Island Club.

The event will be broadcast live by the Golf Channel, but this is your chance to view the action up close in person as professional golf’s upcoming stars compete for their chance to advance to the PGA TOUR.

For more information about volunteering at the Nationwide Tour Championship on Daniel Island, visit www.nationwidetourchampionship.com under “Tickets and Local Event Details” or contact Alexa Devine Harnig at smudevine@aol.com or (843) 881-2532.

New Photo Gallery: Daniel Island's 4th of July Extravaganza!

Daniel Island was THE place to be over the 4th of July weekend, with more that 600 residents participating in the great events and celebrations all over the island!

Residents started the celebration at Friday night’s “Decorate Your Ride” party, where everyone decorated their bikes, golf carts and stroller’s for the next day’s parade, and then relaxed and enjoyed the sounds of the Coconut Groove Band.

Saturday morning started out with the first-ever “Pancakes in the Park” where residents enjoyed delicious pancakes with proceeds going to the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society. If you missed the breakfast this year, don’t worry, it will be back next year! The Charleston Youth Company then performed patriotic numbers in Etiwan Park to get the crowd ready for the parade.

Next, the parade made its way from Etiwan Park over to the Piece Park Pavilion, where residents enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon at the pool with activities and games for the whole family.

We are already excited for next year!